A couple of AL West rivals are set to commence upon a 3-game series today when the Angels and Mariners meet. The opening pitch from Safeco Field in Seattle is slated for 10:10 PM ET. The current MLB betting odds at BetOnline.ag is indicating that Seattle is a money line favorite of -109. There’s a total of 8.5 on this game across the major offshore sportsbook landscape.

In a strange scheduling quirk, this will be the 3^rd series of the season played between these American League West Division teams, and all will have taken place in Seattle. The Mariners have won 4 of 6 games against the Angels thus far in 2018, and just 1 of those 6 games stayed under the total. As a matter of fact, since 2016, the Angels and Mariners have witnessed only 7 of their 25 meetings in Seattle go under the total.

Probable Starting Pitchers

Andrew Heaney is scheduled to start tonight for the Angels. Heaney has gone a dismal 1-6 during his team starts on the road this year, and his sizable 6.14 ERA in those outings certainly was a key contributing factor to that lack of success. Since 2017, the Angels left-hander has made 2 starts against Seattle and posted a brutal 11.82 ERA while doing so.

Wade LeBlanc is listed as tonight’s starting pitcher for Seattle. Seattle is an unbeaten 6-0 at home this season with LeBlanc as their starting pitcher, and the left-hander’s superb 1.91 ERA throughout those 6 games was a major reason why. LeBlanc will also have the security in knowing that Seattle’s bullpen has garnered a sparkling 1.47 ERA and 0.81 WHIP over its last 7 games.

Pertinent Team Trends

Seattle enters today with a stellar 54-31 (.635) season record. The Angels are a money burning 3-15 this season when facing an opponent with a win percentage of .620 or better. Los Angeles is also a poor 11-22 in 2018 when their money line is +125 to -125. The Angels are a very respectable 37-28 against right-handed starting pitchers this season but have gone an uninspiring 6-14 versus lefties.

Seattle is currently on a 7-game winning streak. Additionally, they’re an extremely profitable 28-14 at home in 2018, and that includes 12-2 during their previous 14 played at Safeco Field.

Final Take

Ordinarily when I see statistical evidence which so overwhelmingly favors one side (Seattle), I wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger, and especially at this cheap of a money line price. However, at the time of this writing, MLB betting odds at Bookmaker.eu is signifying that 73% of individual money line wagers have gone on Seattle. Yet, the Mariners opened at -120 and are now -109. It’s what professional sports handicappers refer to as a reverse line move. It’s extremely rare when I oppose those types of sharp movements, and I won’t be making any exceptions to that rule today. It’s just never that easy when it comes sports wagering. If it looks to good to be true, I either go the other way or pass. I’m opting to do the latter.

Ross Benjamin is a top sports analyst and one of the sports industry's most respected handicappers. Follow him on Twitter: @RossBenjamin1 or visit his website at RBWins.com